Throughout the centuries the lands of the park have been inhabited by Native Americans and European Settlers. The social, religious, and economic interests between native people and Europeans led to conflicts and tragedies.

Before the European settlers inhabited the area, the area around Rockville Park was home to the Suisun tribe of the Patwin Native Americans. The Suisun natives lived in a village east of the park called “Yul Yul,” the place of the setting sun.

The Patwins first met the Europeans when Spanish Lieutenant Jose Sanchez and his men attacked the Patwin area villages in the area in 1817.

Jose Sanchez was sent from San Francisco to the area that is now known as Solano County. The purpose of his mission was to meet with and Christianize the natives living in the area. The expedition landed on the shores of Suisun Bay somewhere near the present city of Benicia. The Sanchez party encountered a group of Suisun Indians. The Indians resented the intrusion by foreigners and a battle ensued. The natives light hunting weapons were no match for the Spaniard’s muskets. As the battle continued, the Suisun Indians were pushed back to their village, which was near the present community of Rockville. Having surrounded the Indians, Sanchez was confident that they would surrender. They did not surrender. At the signal of their chief, Chief Malica, they set fire to their village and cast themselves into the flaming huts. Most of the original Indians perished. The few survivors fled into the nearby hills rather than be taken captive.

After the attack, the surviving natives came under the influence of missionaries from the Spanish government. Sem Yeto, a Suisun native from Yul Yul was baptized at the Mission de San Francisco Solano in Sonoma. His name became Francisco Solano. He was later to be known as Chief Solano.

Chief Solano later met the Spanish commissioned General Mariano Vallejo in 1835. The two leaders became friends and formed an alliance against hostile tribes in the area.

The size of the Suisun tribe was decimated during a smallpox epidemic from 1837-1840.